Laurie's Dance with Sound

The People I Meet - Drew & His Family
Laurie's Dance with Sound Last Friday, I had opportunity to meet another CI kid - Drew! His parents both write in "Turn On My Ears" and they live in Columbus, Ohio. When I was planning my trip to Ohio, I email them to see if we could possibly meet. Drew's family invited me for lunch and we had a wonderful time visiting and learning about each other's hearing journeys.Drew & Laurie (we b...
Tech Thu, Oct 02 2008 hide this blog flag post bookmark post

The People I Meet - Ethan & Heather
Laurie's Dance with Sound Last Saturday I drove to Ohio for a little getaway. . .I take this trip once a year to have some time with family and friends. I also use this time to reflect, ponder, and have some quiet time at my aunt's home in the country in the middle of nowhere. (I'll write about this visit in another post.)On the way up, I stopped in Cincinnati to meet a new CI friend, Ethan ...
Language Education Tech Thu, Sep 25 2008 hide this blog flag post bookmark post

Taming The China Cabinet
Laurie's Dance with Sound Ever since I got my cochlear implants, I've been more aware of sounds I haven't heard before. Others CI friends have had to oil squeaky hinges on doors or turn down the volume on the TV and other electronic item. In our house, we have a noisy china cabinet in the dining room! Our dining room sits in the middle of the house and is a major walk-through area from the ...
Tech Wed, Sep 10 2008 hide this blog flag post bookmark post

Labor Day Fireworks!
Laurie's Dance with Sound Steve and I went to Knoxville on Labor Day to see the Boomsday Fireworks. For those of you who don't know what Boomsday is, it is a huge three day festival held in Knoxville, Tennessee every Labor Day weekend on the waterfront in downtown Knoxville. It is a free event that brings thousands of people to Knoxville’s Volunteer Landing (near the University of Tennessee ...
Tech Sun, Sep 07 2008 hide this blog flag post bookmark post

Three Year Anniversary
Laurie's Dance with Sound Three years ago today, the remnants of Hurricane Katrina blew through Knoxville, knocking out the power in our area. Three years ago Steve was trying to get home from a business trip to take me to the hospital for a life-changing surgery (he didn't make it - Marissa had to miss school that day and took me instead. Steve did make it in time to be there when I woke up...
Language Tech Sun, Aug 31 2008 hide this blog flag post bookmark post

Sounds of Mystic, Connecticut
Laurie's Dance with Sound The waters are alive with the sounds of Mystic,With stories they have told for a thousand years.The river fills my heart with the stillness of Mystic,My heart wants to tell every story it hears. . .My heart wants to soar like the mist on the water rising like a breath of heaven to the clouds. . .My soul wants to sail like a ship that glidesfrom the pier in the wind. ....
Tech Wed, Aug 27 2008 hide this blog flag post bookmark post

A Letter From My Father - Part 3
Laurie's Dance with Sound My father's letter continues. . .Laurie's mother should be given the majority of the credit for ensuring Laurie's speech training and for spending hours and hours listening to her and her problems and for encouraging her to "never give up" on being able to "get along" in a hearing world.She taught Laurie how to be organized and to get tasks done in a timely manner. F...
Higher Education Language Education Mon, Aug 25 2008 hide this blog flag post bookmark post

A Letter From My Father - Part 2
Laurie's Dance with Sound Dad went on and talked about my early "school" years. . . my notes/comments are in red. . . just reading my father's letter brought back many memories for me.(Dad's letter continues. . . )At age 3, Laurie was enrolled in Pre-school for 3-5 days a week at our church, North Broadway Methodist Church in Columbus, Ohio.At age 5, she started kindergarten at a "special scho...
Language Education Tech Thu, Aug 21 2008 hide this blog flag post bookmark post

NEWS FLASH! UT Audiology & Speech Program Update
Laurie's Dance with Sound I just received word that the University of Tennessee Department of Audiology & Speech Pathology program has been saved! This is WONDERFUL and GREAT news! So many people have responded and worked very hard to save this department that makes a difference in so many lives. I don't know all of the details yet but it was announced this afternoon.This news comes jus...
Higher Education Language Tech Tue, Aug 19 2008 hide this blog flag post bookmark post

A Letter From My Father
Laurie's Dance with Sound A few weeks ago my father sent me a letter answering some questions about my early years when my hearing loss was discovered. I would not be where I am today if it wasn't for my mom & dad's determination, strength, & perseverance in making sure I had every option available to me. I still had some questions about my early "deaf" history and since Mom wasn't h...
Language Sun, Aug 10 2008 hide this blog flag post bookmark post

Audiology Clinic Allows Locals to Live & Work
Laurie's Dance with Sound I am still working hard and advocating for the UT Audiology & Speech Department and recently had another article published in the Knoxville News Sentinel on Monday. You can access it HERE. It was originally supposed to be published a few weeks ago but the gentleman who wrote it had to deal with the loss of his mother to cancer right after he interviewed me. I ha...
Tech Wed, Aug 06 2008 hide this blog flag post bookmark post

Guess Who Is Coming to Tennessee?
Laurie's Dance with Sound Jackson! (And his mommy and daddy, too!) They will arrive tonight from Texas. My car is all ready for him with a clean car, car seat, & stroller. I love having a "Granny Car" complete with all the things I need. I never dreamed that being a grandma would be so much fun! I also borrowed a port-a-crib/playpen, and swing and all this fills up my vehicle. There ...
Tech Thu, Jul 24 2008 hide this blog flag post bookmark post

The People I Meet - Valerie
Laurie's Dance with Sound Last Saturday I had an opportunity to meet a new CI blogging friend, Valerie! She has a blog at Tales from a CI Gal so go visit her! She and her daughter, Jenna, were in Gatlinburg last weekend for a dance competition. I love meeting new people, especially those that I've met through blogging and the Internet. I had a beautiful drive through the Smoky Mountains on...
Tech Tue, Jul 01 2008 hide this blog flag post bookmark post

UT Audiology and Speech Program Update
Laurie's Dance with Sound I have been very busy writing letters to the Tennessee Governor, the President of the University of Tennessee, the Board of Trustees, Senators, Representatives, and anyone I can think of regarding the proposed shutdown of the UT Audiology and Speech Program. The public outcry on this issue has been phenomenal. The Board of Trustees did decide to postpone this decisi...
Higher Education Mon, Jun 30 2008 hide this blog flag post bookmark post

2008 HLAA Convention Reno Recap
Laurie's Dance with Sound So much happened during my trip to Reno for the HLAA convention that I don't know where to start! I barely got my act together and got everything situated so I could leave for ten days. I have a husband that can pack a suitcase in 15 minutes but it takes me several days! My flights were good and I really didn't have any major problems except the usual stress of won...
Art and Storytelling Tech Thu, Jun 26 2008 hide this blog flag post bookmark post

HLAA in Reno
Laurie's Dance with Sound Where do I begin to write? Four days at the HLAA Convention in Reno was not enough time to see all the things I wanted to see, spend time with all the friends I wanted to be with, take all the pictures I wanted to take, attend all the seminars I wanted to go to, and do all the things I wanted to do. There are so many thoughts I want to share with you all about the c...
Art and Storytelling Culture Mon, Jun 23 2008 hide this blog flag post bookmark post

2008 HLAA Convention, Reno, Nevada!
Laurie's Dance with Sound I’m on my way to the annual HLAA (Hearing Loss Association of America) Conference in Reno, Nevada! I’ve been planning for this ever since the convention last year in Oklahoma City and can’t wait to see my friends again and meet new ones! I barely got my act together and fell into bed after midnight last night when I finished packing. I’m probably bringing too m...
Tech Thu, Jun 12 2008 hide this blog flag post bookmark post

2008 HLAA Convention in Reno, Nevada
Laurie's Dance with Sound Lake Tahoe, here I come! The 2008 Hearing Loss Association of America Convention is almost here and I am really looking forward to it! It is going to be held at the Grand Sierra Resort and Casino at Lake Tahoe in Reno, Nevada from June 12th to the 15th. For those of you who are deaf or hearing impaired in some way (or know someone who is), this is four days of heaven!...
Thu, Jun 12 2008 hide this blog flag post bookmark post

Future Cochlear Implant Candidate???
Laurie's Dance with Sound This is what I woke up to this morning. . . I was not prepared for the sudden, jarring sensation that reverberated through my processors when I turned them on! And I was inside the house! We live on a quiet circle at the end of a mile long street and have very little traffic or noise on our street. We are having some major construction for the next five weeks so th...
Tech Thu, Jun 12 2008 hide this blog flag post bookmark post

UT President is Shutting Down My Audiologist's Office!
Laurie's Dance with Sound As an advocate for the Tennessee Council for the Deaf & Hard of Hearing, if anything affects the deaf and hard of hearing in East Tennessee, I stop whatever I am doing. Today is one of those days.I have received some disturbing news today and have already written a letter to the Governor of Tennessee, Phil Bredesen, regarding this issue. John D. Peterson, the pr...
Higher Education Thu, Jun 05 2008 hide this blog flag post bookmark post

Memorial Day Tribute
Laurie's Dance with Sound Memorial Day is a time to reflect and remember those who have gone before us to give us the freedom that we enjoy today. Steve and I watched the National Memorial Day Concert on PBS on Sunday night and appreciated the music and stories. I LOVE listening to patriotic songs and always get the goose bumps when I hear them. Especially when I hear "Taps." The stories b...
Language Tech Tue, May 27 2008 hide this blog flag post bookmark post

Branson Deaf Appreciation Weekend
Laurie's Dance with Sound I received this in my email box today and thought I should pass this news on to my readers. This event looks like great fun and I wish I was close enough to attend this! As you know, May is Better Hearing and Speech Month. I think it is wonderful when organizations and businesses make a special effort so that deaf and hard of hearing persons can participate in show...
Art and Storytelling Culture Thu, May 01 2008 hide this blog flag post bookmark post

Medical Alert Tattoo
Laurie's Dance with Sound I've been thinking about this for quite some time and thought I would put this out there for comments, ideas, and suggestions. . . .Because I have bilateral cochlear implants, I wear a medical alert bracelet that has my name on it, that states that I have a cochlear implant, and that I cannot have an MRI for any reason. What if my bracelet falls off in an accident? Or...
Tech Tue, Feb 26 2008 hide this blog flag post bookmark post

It's SNOWING. . . .
Laurie's Dance with Sound . . .in West Virginia! Apparently it is snowing back home in Tennessee, too! I've been traveling in Morgantown, WV with my husband on business this week. It was 15 degrees the first morning we woke up and we were COLD! I've worn my cuddle duds (long underwear) every day this week to stay warm. (I also have a huggy hubby to keep me warm when he isn't busy working!) We'...
Media Language Tech Thu, Feb 14 2008 hide this blog flag post bookmark post

New Processor, New Places, New Sounds
Laurie's Dance with Sound I have time for a quick post this morning. I'm currently in Nashville for my Governor's Council meeting and am staying at the Doubletree Hotel downtown. When I'm in a new place I usually hear new and different sounds. And I'm alone so it takes me awhile to figure them out.Last night when I returned to my room after a nice dinner downstairs, I heard a faint bell ringin...
Tech Fri, Feb 08 2008 hide this blog flag post bookmark post

Bilateral Cochlear Implant Anniversary
Laurie's Dance with Sound A year ago today I went under the knife again to have my second cochlear implant surgery. What a year it has been! I truly love hearing in surround sound and am forever thankful and grateful for the opportunity to hear this well in my lifetime!Today (Wednesday) was an interesting day. I participated in a research study for a graduate student at the University of Te...
Language Tech Sat, Feb 02 2008 hide this blog flag post bookmark post

NAD Salutes PepsiCo for its Deaf Super Bowl Ad in ASL
Laurie's Dance with Sound A News Release from the National Association of the DeafRelease Date: February 1, 2008 Contact:Anita B. FarbDirector, Communications and OperationsNational Association of the DeafEmail: www.nad.org/contactus--- NAD Salutes PepsiCo for its Super Bowl Ad in ASL Silver Spring, MD -- Much excitement among deaf people worldw...
Media Art and Storytelling Tech Culture Sat, Feb 02 2008 hide this blog flag post bookmark post

Behind The Scenes - Pepsi Super Bowl Deaf Commercial
Laurie's Dance with Sound CNN Money has published an article on the PepsiCo Super Bowl deaf commercial. Also, here is a "behind the scenes" clip link on YouTube!
Media Art and Storytelling Culture Mon, Jan 28 2008 hide this blog flag post bookmark post

Hearing Impaired and CI news
Laurie's Dance with Sound The ADA (Americans With Disabilities Act) prohibits discrimination and ensures equal opportunity for persons with disabilities in employment, State and local government services, public accommodations, commercial facilities, and transportation. It also mandates the establishment of TDD/telephone relay services. I frequent other hearing impaired and CI blogs and just ...
Sat, Jan 26 2008 hide this blog flag post bookmark post

Giving Thanks for Miracles
Laurie's Dance with Sound Happy Thanksgiving to you from our house! Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday because we can celebrate with family and friends, be together for a meal, and give thanks for all our blessings. Today has been a good day celebrating with family and friends, far and near, in person and online. I am thankful for many things, all things great and small. I am thankful for the...
Higher Education Language Tech Sun, Jan 06 2008 hide this blog flag post bookmark post

Happy New Year!
Laurie's Dance with Sound Happy New Year to all of my readers, friends, and family!I'm sitting here in our breakfast nook watching the sun come up over the foothills of the Smokies from the kitchen window. The birds are flying around the feeders (but I can't hear them because the windows are closed.) The house is still "asleep" except for the four dogs in the house. And two of them (Gus & ...
Language Tech Sun, Jan 06 2008 hide this blog flag post bookmark post

TV Interview Transcript
Laurie's Dance with Sound I've had several requests for the transcript for my TV interview. The reporter emailed it to me so I'll post it for those of you who can't hear without close captioning. I know I still like to use close captioning myself. So, here it is! (The capital letters are the voice track that the reporter did and the lower case sentences are my quotes.) I hope you enjoy!Anchor ...
Language Education Tech Sun, Jan 06 2008 hide this blog flag post bookmark post